European Heritage Days

Montalban’s architecture tells a unique story of a medieval town that has never stopped evolving and reinventing itself. From the centuries-old arcades of the Place Nationale to the elegant façades of the 19th century, each stone bears witness to an ancestral know-how and the imprint of the generations that have shaped the city. This 2025 edition invites us to take a fresh look at these architectural marvels, which are often familiar but rarely explored in all their complexity. How did the master builders of the Middle Ages design the perfect geometry of the city? What technical secrets are hidden behind the Gothic vaults of Saint-Jacques church? How has twentieth-century architecture been harmoniously integrated into the historic urban fabric?

The event promises to open the doors of monuments usually closed to the public, revealing unsuspected architectural treasures. Imagine stepping into state rooms with preserved decorations, discovering staircases of honour with sculpted banisters, admiring painted ceilings that bear witness to the refinement of bygone eras. The guide-lecturers from the Centre d’interprétation de l’architecture et du patrimoine will transform each visit into a journey through time. Their expertise will help you decipher architectural codes, understand the evolution of building techniques and appreciate the creative daring of builders past and present.

Montalban’s architectural heritage is not limited to its emblematic monuments. These days will also reveal the wealth of civil, industrial and contemporary architecture. From artisans’ workshops to rehabilitated factories, from middle-class houses to modern public facilities, each building bears witness to an era, a use, a vision of housing and living together. This cross-disciplinary approach will help you to understand architecture as a total art form, combining aesthetics and functionality, tradition and innovation, heritage and contemporary creation.

Mediators from Montalban’s cultural establishments will be using all their expertise to make this wealth of architecture accessible to visitors. Their contributions will punctuate the visits with historical anecdotes, popularised technical explanations and perspectives that will bring these stones steeped in history to life. This educational dimension will transform each participant into a true heritage explorer, capable of taking an enlightened look at the architectural environment that surrounds them on a daily basis.

Accessibility is a major issue for this year’s event. Families, architecture enthusiasts and curious novices will all find something to suit their expectations and level of knowledge. Specially designed itineraries will enable the pace and content of the visits to be adapted, guaranteeing an enriching and memorable experience for everyone.

These European Heritage Days will reveal Montauban as a veritable architectural laboratory, where different periods and styles blend harmoniously. The medieval town is in dialogue with classical architecture, which in turn is enriched by the contributions of modernity. This diversity is the city’s unique signature, a testament to its ability to adapt and constantly renew itself.

The 2025 event promises to be a unique opportunity to understand and appreciate the exceptional value of Montalban’s architectural heritage. More than a simple tourist visit, these days offer a real training of the eye, an education in architectural beauty and an awareness of the importance of preserving and passing on this exceptional heritage. This celebration of architecture will transform each participant into an ambassador for Montalban’s heritage, capable of passing on the emotion and knowledge acquired during this exceptional weekend. A living heritage that continues to write its history before our astonished eyes.